Dyed composition cork and method



Patented Sept.27, 1938 DYED' CONEPOSITION CORK AND METHOD Giles B. Cooke, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Crown 7 Cork & Seal Company, Inc., Baltimore, Md., a corporation of New York No Drawing, Application November 16, 1935,

Serial No. 50,241

3 Claims. (Cl. 18-48) The present invention relates to a method for ordinary period of time to secure proper elimithe production of composition cork bodies, such nation of the volatiles.

as sheets, slabs, strips, etc., dyed b-y impregna- The following water soluble dyes (commercial tion, and to the cork bodies so produced. designations) have proven satisfactory with a 5 Composition cork bodies as herein contemglue gel binder: 5

plated have hitherto been dyed by surface application. Such products have been unsatisfactory since, While the main purpose has been to provide an exposed decorative surface, this surface, by

Calcocid Green C. G. Extra Calcocid Blue Black, E xtra Conc. Calcocid Brilliant Red B.

reason of its exposure, is subject to Wear, and in These dyes a used in the ratio of about foul l0 ti loses t uniformity of appearance and. ounces to about three pounds of granulatedcork. hence, its attractiveness. According to my im- The method may be rr out with all Water proved process, the dye is made to permeate Soluble dyes, both acid and basic yp T e t cork body throughout so that even in the case method is not confined to the use of water soluble of surface injury, uniformity of color effect is redyes but Spirit Soluble dyes may be used by 15 tained. A great advantage of the specific solving the dye in alcohol, benzene, or other suitmethod of impregnation to be herein disclosed able Volatile Solvent The Spirit b e dyecan resides in the fact that it is carried out in the be dissolved in the cork;softening agent, Such a baking operation usual in the production of unglycerine glycol, and Oil so uble dyes may be dyed composition cork b di used when softening agentslsuch as sulfonated 20 In th ordinary manufacture of composition corn oil or sulfonated cast/or oil'are employed.

cork bodies, granulated cork is mixed with a The binder s not limited to ue but albumen, binder and plasticizer, or softener, then confined casein, latex, e yde resins, ureaunder pressure in a mold and baked to remove fermeldehyde s ns, etc miXtllreS f Such the volatiles, the mold giving the required form may be u e However, it is po a t to select 25 to the product. According to the present inventhe proper. dye to be ilsed h a g ven binder tion, I add to the original mix a suitable dye endepertleular Softening age tsolution, which solution, due to the softening A Stronger composltlon Obtained- When a f t k 11 walls during the baking operaresin binder or abinder of resin and glue is used tion, is dispersed throughout the cork particles. a When the bmd er of r and 30 The ft i of the cork particles is efiected by with a resin or resinous binder, a spirit soluble the plasticizing or softening agent and/or by the preferablean a 51X ounces of dye solvent The Solvent and softening agent spirit soluble dyedlssolved n twelve ounces of may be distinct ingredients or may be a single alcohol may be mixed with e1ght ounces of resin ingredient with double function. The only reqm m ounces of glue the Whole bemg 35 uisite is a dye which is soluble and which, in mlxed Wlth three pounds granulated 9 solution, is miscible with the other a t and It should be stated that in some cases it 1s preferable to coat the cork thoroughly with'the dye 5 2 23: 2 5222 13 322? the cork cell Walls solution and then admix the binder. This se- 40 th f t 1 b d quence has been used With the formula just men- 40 In G E 0 er so u 18 an tioned, the baking being continued for four and ample, thirty grams of the dye are dissolved in one-half hours at a temperature of 285 F. Of water, the solution added to one hundred and course the temperature and the baking period fifty grams of hot glue gel (glue and glycerine),

i may be varied and will necessarily vary to some and the Whole thoroughly mlXed Wlth four u extent in accordance with the form or mass of dred and fifty grams of granulated cork- The the body to be produced. It is only necessary mixture is pressed into a mold and heated at th t the baking be at a sufficient temperature around F. for bout o s. The and continued for a suflicient period to effect glycerine and the water during heating, cause the permeation and to remove the volatiles.

50 cork particles to soften and swell, the dye solu- With reference to the selection of the dye, I 50 tion entering each cork cell, permeating the cell have found that water soluble dyes are prefermembranes, and carrying with it the coloring able, for example, with a glue or casein binder, matter. Since the Water is an addition to the while spirit soluble dyes are more satisfactory other volatiles, the baking process, at a given when a resin binder is used. The ingredients temperature, requires a somewhat longer than must be compatible. For example, in using 55 phenolic resin binder, the dye must be of a nature not to fade or change color in the presence of phenolic resins at temperatures around 300 F. Also the dyeshould be spirit soluble. Under such conditions, the following dyes (commercial designations) may be mentioned as satisfactory:

Condensation Black, 1500-V Condensation Green, V- Nigrosine W S J.

To avoid any possibility of the dye running when the dyed body is washed for instance with water, the correct quantity of dye should be used, the exact amount of a given dye, of course, depending upon its tinctorial quality. In the case of the dyes just mentioned, about six ounces should be used to about three pounds of composition cork.

The cork particles may be of any size within reasonable limits. I have successfully used sizes up to five mesh with no indication that larger sizes could not be used if desired.

The new product has many advantageous uses. In the form of sheets it may be applied to walls with appropriate decorative effect, in addition to its qualities of sound absorption and heat insulation. The composition cork in the selected color or colors and desired thickness may beapplied to walls by a suitable adhesive and while the ex posed surface may be lacquered or varnished, the natural finish is preferable. The surface is easily cleaned by sanding and may be washedwith water, for example, without damage. The natural surface is particularly effective when absorption and soft reflection of light is desired. The product is useful as material for use in window and room displays, bulletin boards, card tablewhich has the color applied throughout its mass to both the cork particles and to the binder before molding.

It will be understood that the particular dyes, solvents, binders, softeners, etc., mentioned, are merely typical and thatI do not limit myself in these respects, nor in respect to baking heats and pressures and the external form of the product. The word body is used in the following claims in its broadest scope.

I claim:

1. The method of producing dyed cork bodies of composition cork comprising mixing cork particles with a dye in solution, a heat setting binder, and a cork softening agent, the dye solvent and softening agent being compatible with the binder,

and heating the mixture in a mold for setting the binder and for simultaneously softening the particles to cause the dye to uniformly permeate the cork particles.

2. The method of producing dyed cork bodies of composition cork comprising mixing cork particles with a dye in solution, and a heat setting binder, the dye solvent being compatible with the binder, and heating the mixture in a mold for setting the binder and for simultaneously softening the particles to cause the dye to uniformly permeate the cork particles.

3. A colored molded cork composition article consisting of cork particles and a binder, and including a softening agent for the cork and a dye, the cork predominating by volume and the-binder, dye and softening agent being present in amount insufficient to interfere with the cork properties of the cork particles so that the product exerts the characteristics of the cork, the cork, binder and softeningagent all being uniformly colored by said dye throughout the body of the article.

GILES B. COOKE. 

